The Night Creatures

A Normal Day

      It was a day like any other for young Elsabeth. Born of an African father and "Indian" mother she was considered less than human by the majority of the white, 19th century Americans but the Ackerman household had been kind enough to adopt her. Though only as a maid. Elsabeth did everything in the house from scrubbing the floors and making the beds to feeding the pigs and cleaning the animals' stalls. Her day would always begin before the sun. She would bustle around in the dark cooking and cleaning - quietly of course - lest she wake the Ackermans.

    The family began to stir just as the sun peaked over the rolling hills and the rooster crooned annoyingly. Elsabeth had just begun to set the table when Mr. Ackerman entered the kitchen first, fully dressed and ready to begin his day and Elsabeth silently placed the bowl of hot porridge in front of him. She received no response, no thank you or even a grunt of recognition, that was expected though. She was barely more than a slave to them. Despite this, Mr. Ackerman was the most tolerable of the family. She barely ever heard him speak and even though he had an intimidating and stern stare he was the kindest to her by ignoring her existence.

    The smell of the warm porridge made her stomach rumble in hunger but she knew that she would not be able to eat until much later. It was forbidden for her to eat with the Ackermans. According to both her sister, Emily and Mrs. Ackerman it was "distasteful". She would eat with the pigs later, although by then the porridge would be cold. It was better than nothing. 

   Soon Emily and Mrs. Ackerman both came into the kitchen, Emily dressed for her schooling which would begin later in the day and Mrs. Ackerman dressed to rest out on the porch as she always did. Elsabeth had always been envious of Emily. She had the privilege of attending school and learning while Elsabeth had to make do with Emily's left-over books that she barely even touched. Even with the limited works Elsabeth had surpassed Emily's ability, no one knew this of course as Elsabeth never told. There was only one time in which Elsabeth voiced her desires aloud only to be laughed at by the ignorant Emily.

    "You? Go to school? Ha! School ain't for dumb half-breed niggers like you. You people were born to serve us or die!" Emily had spat at Elsabeth. It took everything in Elsabeth not to throttle her "sister" that day. Her ability of self-restraint still amazed her, but since that day everything became more difficult with Emily taking every available chance to cause trouble for her.

     Sadly, the community in which the Ackermans lived had the same mindset of dear Emily. When family friends or neighbors would pay a visit they never failed to complain about her presence and how it ruined the atmosphere of the house, which would then result in Elsabeth being forced to leave the house and tend to her outside duties (which by that time were usually already complete). Despite the annoying use of words by the guests the breaks that she received thanks to them were more than welcome.

    Once the rather quiet breakfast had ended, Elsabeth quickly cleaned up and rushed outside to finish her outdoor chores before the sun became scorching hot. She first took the scraps left over to the pigs giving them their share and cleaning out the pen before going to her own scraps and eating with them. They didn't have the best table manners, but she would take this over the Ackermans any day. The pigs were good company and their unintelligible conversations made her feel warm inside, as though she sat at a table with her family chatting loudly and happily as they ate.

   Elsabeth quickly cleaned the pigs pen, making sure to avoid getting mud on her dress. As she finished she patted one of the pigs on the head lightly with a small smile before leaving.

  Now finished, Elsabeth made her way to the well and cleaned off as much of the mud stains as she could. Her next chore was her favourite - milking the cows.

  The barn, despite its stench and lack of light was Elsabeths favourite place to be. She approached the family's prized cow, Magrid and gently rubbed the bridge of her nose. Magrid always gave a sense of calm to Elsabeth. She had a mother-like aura, but of course that was because she was a mother.

  "Hello, Magrid."

  Magrid grunted in response.

  "Today is better than yesterday so far. Mrs. Ackerman hasn't scolded me once yet!" She babbled to Magrid as she prepared to milk her. Even though it was silly, Elsabeth felt that Magrid could understand her. Magrid was the mother which Elsabeth never had.

  Elsabeth was pulled from her thoughts by the mewl of a cat.

  "Hello Rissa! Did you want some milk?" Elsabeth knew that she would not receive a response from the slender black cat.

  Rissa sauntered over as Elsabeth filled a bowl with fresh milk. She could feel the cats green eyes watching her. Rissa was quick to run to the bowl once she'd placed it down and began lapping it up with her rough, pink tongue.

  Rissa was an interesting cat. She had mysteriously appeared one day and never left assumably due to the surplus of mice and rats. And free milk of course.

  Perhaps what was most curious about Rissa were her eyes. Such a vibrant array of greens that they seemed unnatural. Sometimes, the appearance of Rissa unsettled her. She seemed too intelligent for a simple cat.

  Rissa always gave Elsabeth an 'I know more than you do' expression which led to Elsabeth questioning her own sanity. Perhaps dealing with her family for so long finally drove her mad.

  She finished milking the cows and by that time sweat dripped from her chin.

  When Elsabeth left the barn, she saw Mrs. Ackerman in her usual place. A lawn chair with a cool glass of lemonade in her hand. Just by looking at Mrs. Ackerman one would think that the family was rich. But it was quite the opposite. Mrs. Ackerman needed to feel as though she lived a life of luxury and her husband would do anything to stop her endless complaining.

  It was the very reason that Elsabeth had been adopted. So that she could take care of both Mrs. Ackerman and Emily. Also to take on their share of the work.

  The sun would be setting by the time she had finished everything. The family would have already eaten without her. The only meal she received was breakfast. Sometimes hunger throughout the day would leave her dizzy but she worked through it. At least she got to eat.

  At the end of her day she would always retire to her room which she shared with Emily, much to her protest. Elsabeths "bed" if it could even be called that was just a pile of old, scratchy blankets but, Elsabeth concluded, it was better than nothing.

  It seemed the moment her body touched the cool floor she fell into the abyss.

  This night though, there was no abyss. She dreamt.

  "Why?" And unidentifiable voice called to her. "Why do you allow them to treat you like this?"

  "I am treated better than most of my people here. I can't complain." Elsabeth replied softly.

  "Are you any less human than they are?" The voice inquired.

  "No..." She trailed, not knowing what more to say.

  "You are above them. They are a speck of dirt beneath your feet, can you not feel it?"

  "What do you mean?" Elsabeth was confused now. What point was the voice attempting to make?

  "One day you shall see..." the voice began to fade away.

  "Wait, Who are you!?" She cried, wanting to at least know who was behind the voice.

  "We," the voice boomed, "are the Night Creatures."

  Elsabeth was left in the darkness until she woke in the late in the morning.